عنوان

The rise of China and the liberal international order :

Number

TLets603520

Title Proper

The rise of China and the liberal international order :

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Jones, Catherine Michele

Title Proper by Another Author

how is the rise of China challenging the practices and ideology of the liberal international order?

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

University of Reading

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2013

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

University of Reading

Text preceding or following the note

2013

Text of Note

This thesis explores the challenge that the rise of an illiberal state - China - presentsto the current liberal international order. The existing literature on rising powers would leadto expectations that China will either challenge or seek to maintain the international regimes,practices and institutions that comprise the current international order. In particular it wouldbe expected that as an illiberal power China would be expected to challenge the practices orregimes that espouse liberal concepts and promote greater liberalisation of both politics andeconomics.Taking these possibilities seriously, this thesis argues that it is possible for China tochallenge ,some elements of international order whilst maintaining others: challenge does notnecessitate or imply destructive revolution or conflict, and maintenance does not implyacquiescence or an absence of change. In presenting this possibility it looks at the ways thecurrent international order is liberal and how that liberalism is expressed in the interpretationsof sovereignty applied through debates and practices of the United Nations Security Council,and the methods and practices that pursue international development. It explores these twocentral elements that form the bedrock of the liberal international order by setting outpossible tools to create normative change; through the interpretation or re-interpretation ofnorms and practices. The theoretical and empirical chapters highlight the possible variation inthe expressions of agency that are available to great powers, suggesting that there are severaltools available to agents to challenge international order, there are also several ways for risingpowers' agency to be seen or obscured in changes taking place.

Jones, Catherine Michele

University of Reading

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y